723 RANUNCULACE.£. 
obliterated, and in some of which the ovary would appear 
to be really simple. The same may be said of Dipsaceze, but 
this statement of simple ovary is opposed to an observation 
of Mr. Brown, viz., there is no instance known of a simple 
inferior ovarium. 
I think, it can scarcely be doubted that the real  rela- 
tions of Umbelliferz are in this direction, the only strong 
objection being its polypetalism. It must not be forgotten 
that if there be a law of representation in the vegetable 
kingdom such as there is in the animal, that the re lations of 
Apiacez with Ranunculacee are quite in order. 
The presence of a minute embryo, at one extremity 
of the albumen is only important as indicating a lower degree 
of organisation, the formation of albumen being such as to 
impede the cotyledonary growth of the embryo. It follows 
as a consequence of this, that the situation of such an em- 
bryo must be at the apex of the nucleus. 
'The idea entertained by some botanists of albumen al- 
ways pre-existing, which has led Mr. Lindley to suppose, that 
in those cases in which it is slight in quantity ‘it is merely 
a residium, is erroneous. If it were true, albumen should 
be distinctly traceable in all the stages of the evolution of 
an exalbuminous seed, this however is not the case, and the 
distinction between an albuminous and exalbuminous form- 
ation is easy enough. 
The dilatation of the base of the petioles is not a mark of 
a valve, it éxists for instance in Rosacee, and in Composite 
ete. Evenin the opposition of the leaves certain species 
Spananthe for instance agree with Compositz. 
If my views be correct, we may expect to find Umbelli- 
ferze with tendencies to the formation of pappus. 
I may remark, that the value of the minute basilar em- 
bryo is completely destroyed by Araliacez, in which D C 
affirms it is nearly equal in length to the albumen, Lindley 
notices this, but not the discrepancy of his own account in 
which it is given as in Ranunculacee. It is through this 
es 
